New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin, right, makes a save during the second period of an NHL Stadium Series hockey game against the New York Rangers in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Islanders had their first outdoor victory well in hand on multiple occasions against the arch-rival Rangers at the 2024 Stadium Series at MetLife Stadium.
After yielding an early opening goal, they scored three in a 3:14 span in the first period as a part of a four-goal unanswered run to take a commanding three-goal lead early in the second period.
Then Anders Lee, who scored the fourth goal early in the second, took a slashing penalty moments later and the Rangers took advantage of the league’s worst penalty kill through a Vincent Trocheck deflection.
Trocheck pulled one more back to cut the Islanders’ advantage to one heading into the third period, but Alexander Romanov’s tap-in early in the frame replenished a two-goal advantage.
And then the penalties began again.
Scott Mayfield took his second penalty of the day midway through the third which the Islanders managed to kill off, but Mathew Barzal took a hooking penalty during 4-on-4 play to give the Rangers a 5-on-3 advantage by pulling goalie Igor Shesterkin with six minutes left.
Chris Kreider scored with 4:08 to go to make it a one-goal game.
“My penalty changed it a bit,” Barzal said. “We were up by two and had the game under control… I thought it was a little weak.
“Just not smart… I could have just been a little more patient rather than trying to check him.”
One minute and 40 seconds later, Mayfield took his third penalty, a trip, and the inept penalty kill was burned again when Mika Zibanejad scored the tying goal with 1:29 to go in regulation.
Ten seconds into overtime, Artemi Panarin scored the game-winner to stun the Islanders.
“We weren’t able to get a kill. It turned out to be the difference,” forward Brock…
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